Stingray Music highlights XIX

Noteworthy songs heard recently:

Brazilian Pop 

• Lua-Paulinho da Viola (Smoothly blended vocals, guitar, and piano.)

The Chill Lounge

• Venice Beach-B.C. Project (This uptempo, trance-inducing instrumental sustains its "wah-wah-wah-wah-wah-wah-wah" reverb and backing bass line compellingly.)

Classic R&B And Soul

• Easy-The Commodores (One of the band's best hits; a laid-back piano line underscores good lyrics about feeling put upon.)

Folk Roots 

• Take One Day-Della Mae (An endearing bluegrass-influenced tune about appreciating yesterday and today; it would flow well with John Denver's "Thank God I'm A Country Boy.")

Jazz Now 

• Light As A Feather-Chick Corea And Return To Forever (A raucous fusion jam; Flora Purim's vocals float over the spacey instrumentation late in the tune.)
• We Shall Meet Beyond The River-Iris Ornig (Bassist Ornig anchors this elegant, bluesy instrumental in which the trumpet and piano shine.)

Smooth Jazz

• After The Love Has Gone-Norman Brown (A good cover of one of Earth, Wind & Fire's best songs; Brown handles the verses on guitar, and backing vocalists sing the chorus.)

The Spa

• Lament-Michele McLaughlin (A contemplative piano piece that would segue with Jim Chappell's "Day's End.")